He was optimistic that Murphy’s problem was a fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE). The most common diseases I see as a vet that cause an older dog’s back legs to collapse or hind leg weakness at any age are: Osteoarthritis. Don’t fret yet. And seems to walk to the left. She tries to walk and her back legs just slide backwards. You need to take it slow with your dog during the times they are unwell. It wasn't bad. Murphy’s story was remarkable in how simple it was: Murphy didn’t seem to be in pain, but the dog’s back legs couldn’t support his weight. However, there was still a faint possibility of disc disease that couldn’t be ruled out without an MRI scan. A dog suffering from arthritis has weaker legs because it makes them too weak to use. Vet spent a lot of time feeling spinal area and lot of time testing her back legs in various positions. His muscles are too weak to respond to the nerve messages. It involves blood glucose monitoring, daily insulin injections, special diets, and exercise plans.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'dogswhisperer_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_12',107,'0','0'])); When your Lab eats dead animals or contaminated raw meat, they can contract botulism. Larger breeds like Labrador retrievers are susceptible to tumors. https://www.petful.com/pet-health/hind-leg-weakness-in-dogs I scour the Internet daily, visit vets and fellow dog owners to make you the finest dog resource on the Internet. This may make your Lab’s behind legs give out over time. Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) Lumbosacral Disease. Our recently adopted/rescued @8 year-old toy poodle started walking strangely this past week. With great nursing care, many dogs go on to make a full recovery. The tumor can be in any place of the dog’s body. Recently he has been stumbling around and losing his balance, especially on the stairs. I have always owned two or more dogs since I was a teen, and I started this website to share my experiences with you. They diagnosed him with Schiff-Sherrington Syndrome. There’s a lot you can do to help your dog maintain quality of life. The movements may be small or massive. I have a 9 week old yellow labrador retriever and when I got her she was perfectly fine. I discussed this with Murphy’s people, and quite rightly, they preferred to get Murphy seen by the specialist, just in case something else was going on. It causes a ‘stroke’ to your dog where you find your dog yelping then suddenly paralyzed in the legs. They are thus exposed to many injuries. He was standing like a German Shephard. Weak, shaking back legs that suddenly give out on a dog can be a symptom of a number of problems. Murphy is your typical, eager 6-year-old Lab. She was having alot of issues with 2 cruciate ligament surgerys on both back legs She had them done in 1996 and 1998. Surgery is the best way to treat this disease. Your affected dog can exhibit physical and behavioral changes. In some cases, you will realize it may even forget all the training you did. There are many reasons why a cat’s back legs might suddenly stop working. If not treated, the dog will continue being active and strain the legs. Weakness in your leg(s) may occur from problems in the nerves and/or muscles in your lower body and is usually treatable. Correcting this is possible with surgery. This disease affects puppies and older dogs, causing them pain from time to time. With recovery and therapy, you may get your dog back physically and socially. He’s a happy soul whose tail is always wagging. Injuries are treated in correlation with their intensity. In 3 weeks, your pooch could recover. Common treatment procedures include acupuncture, hydrotherapy, painkillers, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Legs can give way due to muscle issues, especially while exercising. Straining it with exercise will do more harm than good. This supports the legs and body. She had no control over it. Hind leg weakness in senior or old dogs. Arthritis is a common extension of trauma or joint abnormalities. Arthritis affects older labs and is coupled with degenerative joint disease. Murphy’s concerned humans phoned in saying he was struggling to walk but weren’t sure which leg he was limping on. Keep that tail wagging, Murphy, and next time, how about something straightforward, like a snagged claw? I was scared. I'm heart broken. This meant referring Murphy to a specialist center for a state-of-the-art scan. If your dog’s back legs are weak, please see your veterinarian to learn the cause. His hind legs started to become weak about a year ago. Unfortunately 2yrs ago he showed signs of Arthritis in his back legs. Next on the list was to check more nerve reflexes to confirm this as a neurological problem and pinpoint the location. Please be honest, what’s everyone’s experience? When faced with a problem, the vet draws up mental list of the likely problems (in vet-speak, this is a list of “differential diagnoses”). Here’s what to expect when you see the vet — plus some possible reasons for a dog’s back legs suddenly not working. Hmmm, Murphy didn’t fit neatly into any of these options. He is a big lab / ret. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'dogswhisperer_com-banner-1','ezslot_1',109,'0','0'])); What to Get your Greyhound for the Holidays. There is no way of treating this as you should let your dog get through it over time. The symptoms of FCE come on suddenly, and the dogs aren’t in pain. It can be genetic, to mean you need to know the history of the Lab. Be sure to notice your trained Labrador forget its training as this is the number one symptom. I love him more than life it’s self. Hard as it seems, euthanasia is an option that should be at the back of your head. Signs of weakness in your dog’s back legs may come on suddenly or develop slowly over a long period of time, depending on the reason for the weakness. Remember, labs are a breed that is susceptible to joint diseases as they grow older. Dogs may not be able to talk, but they can still communicate their emotions through a wide range of actions and expressions using their bodies. You will find your Lab even jumping on things or people without tiring. When in excess, the Cushing’s disease emerges. Avulsions are another trauma cause by tending to occur in parts of the leg below the knee. Their cheerful nature will ensure they are always on their feet. It causes paralysis and exhibits symptoms in six days. The number one reason that felines pass away is from kidney failure and it is very common, even in younger cats, but a 16 year old cat is even more likely to develop this. To do this, I had Murphy lie on his side and tested one back leg at a time in this way: Which brings us back to the big question: Why were his back legs weak? Splints and braces are also used to support the dog in walking. ... appeared at the back four just staring out and giving me her characteristic wheezing that she wanted out. He had lost a lot of weight and the vet said that was good---less weight for his weak legs to hold. Often, some of these issues are progressive. A feeling of sudden leg weakness, causing your legs to give out or buckle can be alarming. ? Rarely, the underlying cause may be a serious medical condition requiring immediate medical attention. Hi all, I have a 13 year old border collie who in most ways is still fighting fit apart from however her back legs give way occasionally. Read more about labradors on our blog. Are your dog’s back legs weak? Some back leg problems in cats come on rapidly, rather than gradually. Diabetes needs a management plan for life. However, this lively ball-chasing dog had woken up that morning unable walk. His hind legs keep folding from under him, and he doesn't eat unless we sit next to him. When the dog isn’t aware the paw is upside down, the vet concludes: Given that Murphy had good muscle tone, it looked like his problems were neurological. My almost 10 year old bull mastiffs front legs are giving out and his back legs seem to slip when he walks occasionally. It is a problem that is most common in older large dogs and if your dog is suffering with weak back legs it is likely that his legs may suddenly give way and cause him to collapse and he may have trouble standing up or climbing stairs. Degenerative Myelopathy. With such an abnormality, the movement of the Lab is irregular and can make the femur move out of place.eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'dogswhisperer_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',106,'0','0'])); Once you spot this, it is important to take the dog to the vet. It involves a partial or complete tear in the knee ligament. He started out as just walking stiff on his hind legs about 8 months ago. Typical Lab! This is heartbreaking for owners and poses a dilemma, because the dog is often otherwise well in himself, and not necessarily in pain. Acute collapse in dogs is a sudden loss of strength, that causes them to fall and be unable to rise. My vet was closed and I had taken him to another vet. My labrador is about 13 years old. You should take her urgently to the vet, she will need t get xrayed. A tumor was certainly a possibility, but the signs should have come on more slowly. When the injury is severe, it may need your vet to recommend surgery as a way of correction. As he bravely tried to stand, he kept collapsing, although his tail was still wagging. He’s a happy soul whose tail is always wagging. A 14-year-old Lab will likely experience significant symptoms of aging. The most common cause of a dog's back legs giving out is a herniated or ruptured intervertebral disc, according to the College of Veterinary Medicine at University of Missouri. With no history of trauma, broken bones seemed unlikely in Murphy’s case. However, you might be surprised to learn that many adults experience sudden leg Summit Orthopedics pain interventionalist Dr. Choi explains that legs give out for a variety of reasons ranging from temporary fatigue to more serious conditions requiring medical evaluation and treatment. Seemed healthy to me. I'm heart broken. He has a large growth on his side that has tripled in size in the last six months. Murphy had not 1 but 2 slipped discs. The dog is usually unwell and possibly feverish, none of which applied to Murphy, who was happily begging for treats. You may have heard this term from old people’s support groups. This is an inflammation of the spinal cord. Many times, the dog’s back legs are unable to carry its weight longer. For older and middle-aged Labs, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is common. This is called the “placing reflex” and tests the nerves going from his paw up into the spinal cord and brain stem. You will observe your dog, and seemingly out of nowhere, the shakes start. Then started having problems going up stairs. I have a nearly 14yr old black labrador,named Zeus,he is my best +loyal companion you could ever want. With his person supporting him in a standing position, I examined the poor dog. Shaking of the back legs in your dog is relatively straightforward. Our 15 year old lab has slowed down in the last few months. Some of the causes are:eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'dogswhisperer_com-box-3','ezslot_0',105,'0','0'])); Labrador retrievers are very playful. Indeed, this condition is a “Labrador thing,” with the breed being especially at risk. Often, it does not demand the use of pain killers in treatment. Its causes are various, but it is almost always related to a nerve issue and should be treated right away. Her hind legs were failing more frequently. We attributed it to age. One minute the cat is fine, and the next, it’s struggling to walk. If you have questions or concerns, call your vet, who is best equipped to ensure the health and well-being of your pet. Avulsions are another trauma cause by tending to occur in parts of the leg below the knee. He’d had surgery to remove the discs and was recovering well. The more a tumor grows, the more it exposes the Lab to such. When their kidneys go out, they become very weak in the back legs, and generally weak all over, thus urinating and sleeping in it is a common thing I have seen. The dog’s caretakers didn’t hesitate and straight away gave consent to refer him. Your Lab’s cortisol levels help to adjust its weight, manage stress, and blood sugar levels. Not all days are joy-filled when with your Lab. What can make a dog’s back legs weak, or cause a dog’s back legs to give out? He is a big lab / ret. Things don’t always go the way the signs suggest, and confirming (or ruling out) a hunch is the best policy where feasible. When dogs become weak in their back legs gradually over time it’s mostly linked to genetics and this usually happens in older dogs. Some of the tell-tale signs that your pooch is having a problem with their back legs include: Even with medication or surgery, offering support aids in healing. If the lineage of the breed had other member dogs with diabetes, you could expect your puppies to have it. Legs giving out randomly underneath you as you walk or run is cause for immediate medical concern. Being observant towards your dog will help you notice so much that is correctible. But if your legs give way and you lose complete control or feeling, the spinal n… My 13 year old lab's (well, 13 in September) hind legs have been giving out the last two days. The past year hasn't been great for just about everyone, except your dog. Depending on the intensity, the dog can recover or get worse as days go by. My labrador is about 13 years old. Sometime's he would hesitate before going up the stairs or jumping onto the bed. Taken him to the vets on numerous occaisions diagnosed arthritis. Her back legs sometimes do a slower pace than her front legs, resulting in a strut, goosestep or even "skip" as she goes along. His back end will give out occasionally as well. These instances are not cause for alarm typically. The puzzling thing was Murphy didn’t seem in pain, since normally this is a bloodcurdling, painful condition. From this, you can enjoy your dog walks without much interruption of a pain-filled dog. Dear Dr Barchas, I have an 8 month old Labrador/Dalmatian cross and two weeks ago he fell off a wall. Sudden Onset Back Leg Problems in Cats. It’s similar to a person fainting or passing out and may begin with weakness, staggering, disorientation or vomiting or diarrhoea. His hind legs started to become weak about a year ago. Always ensure you check out your dog’s well being from time to time. He had a paralysis that effected his hind legs and he would just drag is back legs. we noticed that as he was running after this his back legs would go from under him. He had lost a lot of weight and the vet said that was good---less weight for his weak legs to hold. A blood clot can damage the spinal cord. However, it is not impossible. Their back legs giving out can be a reason for great sadness. That’s a question I had to answer recently for the anxious parents of a middle-aged Labrador Retreiver. You can check the ultimate weight loss guide for your dog here. When your pooch grows older, some of the symptoms become normal. The back legs on your dog may become unstable and weak, if there is any damage, inflammation or bruising to the spinal cord or the back. A condition known as degenerative myelopathy, a slow, progressive disorder that affects the spine in older dogs, also causes weakness and paralysis. He was standing like a German Shephard. They also are very likely to become overweight, which can blur your judgment. Often, there are other signs that can help lead to a diagnosis, so take note of any physical or behavioral changes that occur. It eventually leads for loss of bladder control and paralysis and at this … Check Now: Blue Buffalo • Science Diet • Purina • Wellness • 4health • Canine Carry Outs • Friskies • Taste of the Wild • See 200+ more brands…. Happily, FCE carries a good prognosis. If not treated, the dog will continue being active and strain the legs. Offer lots of affection and encouragement. One alternative I did with my yellow lab was acupuncture and chinese herbs and I actually got 5 1/2 more beautiful years with her. link to What to Get your Greyhound for the Holidays, link to How to read your Dog's Body Language. The dog doesn’t know the paw is upside down (the placement nerves aren’t working); OR, He knows it’s upside down but the leg doesn’t get the nerve message to flip it over (the do-something-about-it nerves aren’t working); OR. This often painless disease is genetic and leads to your Lab’s hind leg weakness. You should also clean the wounds well. A sick dog does not need punishment or training. Such injuries can lead to bone fractures to the legs. This is because the nerves linking the spinal cord and the legs do not receive signals telling them what to do and, as a … My cat is not even a year old & today her legs suddenly started giving out. Canine Degenerative Myelopathy, also referred to as DM, is the most common reason why older dogs develop progressive weakness in their back legs. Younger dogs are at a higher risk of this and toe fractures. I have been reading through this forum and on line - and think it may be either arthritis or something called spondylosis. But Murphy had nice pink gums and no signs of internal bleeding. In this article, you learn why your Lab’s legs are giving out what to look out or and possible treatment options. Finally, an overweight lab will need a weight loss program to help it shed some excess weight weighing it down. In the advent of this, a piece of fibrous cartilage enters and blocks the vertebral blood vessel. If your dog has back leg weakness accompanied by hair loss, a pot-bellied appearance, and increased appetite and thirst, you can suspect Cushing's disease; visit your veterinarian for tests. You can treat this killer disease by offering a whole circle of supportive care. Your vet will recommend surgery in severe cases. Possibly the slow movement is due to loss of feeling. Prompt action meant the damage to his nerves was limited, and — fingers crossed — he should make a good recovery. Told me he needed back surgery that it would cost $3-$4000.00 in surgery. They will likely not be … For Murphy, mine went something like this: Disc disease is a frequent cause of a dog’s back legs suddenly not working. My dog is 12 years old & his back legs are giving out. Thankfully, when you visit a vet, they will tell you how to deal with it. He's a yellow Labrador Retriever and he's 13 years old...not THAT old for his breed. but found nothing. He is having a hard time going down stairs. Part of having a Lab in your family is to become accustomed to having a high energy dog that plays and exercises a lot. He had been fine the previous day but woken that morning with a weak back end. This is where a small piece of cartilage enters the bloodstream and blocks the blood supply to the spine, causing swelling. This sounds like paralysis of the back legs, possibly from an accident or other trauma. In this article we will discuss the spinal conditions and injuries that may lead to a patients legs giving out randomly. It wasn't bad. Thirty minutes later, in the waiting room, Murphy was unable to stand and had to be carried into the exam room. This is usually linked to trauma (which didn’t apply to Murphy) or problems with blood clotting. Hop on and let's talk dogs today! Believe it or not, your Labrador retriever can have an injury that could take you weeks to figure out. He still eats and walks everyday. Medically reviewed by Dr. Jules Benson, BVSc. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Fluid and electrolyte therapy will keep the dog hydrated. Running normally and going on regular walks, she was fine. About 2 days later, I got a preliminary report back from the specialist. He is losing weight and having bowel movements inside in the house. Both will give a great picture of not only the bone but also the nerves. The back legs weakness due to a tumor happens over a long period of time. Sometime's he would hesitate before going up the stairs or jumping onto the bed. Such injuries can lead to bone fractures to the legs. It is alarming to suddenly have your legs give out as you take a step. Your pooch will be under pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs to aid his recovery. Even so, it’s important to check for fractures and dislocations, but there were none, and neither did Murphy have painful joints. It is highly unlikely for a Labrador to live until this age. My dog's collapsed, what could be wrong? Signs of back leg weakness can include: Lameness; Lack of coordination Again, slightly puzzling was that both Murphy’s back legs were affected — usually, this is a one-sided problem, with one good leg and one bad leg. The bad news is, it is also a hot topic in many doggy forums too. We have taken him to the vet & he gave him metacam, but it seems to give him gut ache as he whinges all the time after he has had it, stopped it & he whinges much less. You will need some slings to assist your dog in walking and support its weight. Also, be sure to read our blog on what to feed your Labrador. To accurately understand a dog's body language, you... My name is Dennis, and I am mad about dogs (the good mad).
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